Waynesboro crime victim catches own thief

The Waynesboro Police Department arrested a Waynesboro man after he was subdued by a citizen from whom he was trying to steal a moped.

Sean Thomas Ryan, 24, is facing two felonies, grand larceny and possession of burglarious tools, after the Saturday morning incident.  On April 26 at approximately 1 a.m., officers responded to the 700 block of North Augusta Avenue for a report of a “theft in progress.”  When they arrived, they found Ryan being held on the ground by a 52-year-old Waynesboro man.

According to the man, he witnessed Ryan taking a $400 moped from his property.  When the victim went outside and yelled for Ryan to stop, he dropped the moped and fled on foot.  The victim pursued Ryan and tackled him a short distance later.  He held him until the officers arrived and arrested him.

During the search of Ryan’s belongings, the officers found a screwdriver, bolt cutters and wire cutters.

Ryan sustained a dislocated shoulder as the result of being apprehended by the moped owner.  He was treated at Augusta Health Emergency Department and released to officers.  He is being held on a $2,500 bond at Middle River Regional Jail.